Window of Opportunity: Delivering warmer homes to private renters
Window of Opportunity: Delivering warmer homes to private renters 3.54 MB
Poor energy efficiency and disrepair continues to damage private renters’ health and finances. Millions are unable to keep their homes warm during the winter, with over half (57%) experiencing damp, mould or excessive cold. This can lead to negative health impacts, stress and higher bills. Private renters living in inefficient properties of EPC D or below in England and Wales have wasted over £4 billion on excess energy costs since the start of 2021.
Our research found that private renters are extremely open to energy efficiency improvements, with 82% saying they would be interested in having energy efficiency measures installed in the next 12 months if their landlords offered this to them. But despite this, most private renters don’t request improvements from their landlords. 70% of private renters haven’t asked their landlords to install any energy efficiency measures in the last 5 years, with many fearing negative reactions or tension with their landlords.
This indicates that renters are ready to accept energy efficiency improvements but face barriers to requesting these measures proactively. Improved regulation on landlords through increased minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) can help translate renters’ enthusiasm for energy efficiency into action from landlords. These new standards will be a key pillar of the Government’s wider reforms in the housing and energy space and should turbo-charge real change for tenants, ensuring that renters are able to live in secure, safe and healthy homes.
Yet despite strong interest in energy efficiency measures, most private renters (77%) still expressed at least some concerns around the installation process. Home upgrades will need to be installed in a way that provides tenants with the support and protection they need.
Citizens Advice is calling for the Government to:
Progress plans to increase minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector to the equivalent of EPC C by 2030, giving certainty to both tenants and landlords.
Support renters through the installation process, ensuring that tenants have appropriate information and advice about any changes to their homes. This should include guidance to landlords on communicating effectively with their tenants about improvement works, as well as access to independent advice and support for renters.
Protect renters from any unintended consequences of MEES. This should include wider consumer protections to ensure that improvement works are performed to a high standard, and specific protections for renters against unfair rent increases - particularly where funding from Government schemes has been used.